The counties were supposed to make returns that would explain to the ministry how many staff are still working for them.
Those that have already done so have had their healthcare workers paid.
Image: PCS
Health CS Susan Nakhumicha has explained why some of the healthcare workers employed under the Universal Health Coverage programme are yet to be paid.
The CS has said close to eight counties are yet to submit their returns to the headquarters as had been requested.
The counties were supposed to make returns that would explain to the ministry how many staff are still working for them under the UHC programme.
Those that have already done so have had their healthcare workers paid, save for the eight.
“We needed that each county to do returns to explain how many people are still working in the counties. Before they point fingers at Afya House first inquire within your counties if they submitted their name in the returns or not,” she said.
“We have around eight counties that are yet to submit their returns. We don’t know who are still working with them because, within the three-year period, there are those who found greener pastures and left,” she said.
She however called on the UHC staff to be patient as the Public Service Commission works out modalities of ensuring they are absorbed on permanent and pensionable terms.
According to Nakhumicha, once the three-year contracts expired, the initiation agreement with the Council of Governors and the PSC was to renew it for another three years since their services were still needed.
However, after writing to PSC, it was agreed that the contracts be renewed for another year as the plans to have them put on permanent and pensionable terms are finalised.
“We wrote to PSC as a ministry and they have responded and said the best thing is to make them permanent but before that their contracts be renewed for one year as we work on their permanent terms so they should have patience and wait,” she said.
The lot was hired on a three-year contract to boost the response to the pandemic as well as the smooth implementation of UHC.
Nine health workers’ unions petitioned the Senate to inquire and unlock the standoff.
In the petition, the unions said the health workers were hired in April 2020 and tied down to a three-year contract.
They were reportedly paid half what their colleagues under permanent and pensionable terms take home.